#HistoryKeThread: A 1907 photo by pioneer administrator, Charles W. Hobley (communities in western Kenya called him ‘Obili’), of a Wanga woman. 
The Wanga and other Luhya sub-communities took part in great rejoicing when children were born.
And when twins were born, it was considered a double blessing.
And when twins were born, it was considered a double blessing.
The whole village, both men and women, assembled “on the fifth or sixth day” after birth outside the lucky mother’s hut.
Young girls and women bedecked themselves with flowers, tied banana leaves on the waist and danced around drums, singing traditional birth songs.
While watching the dances from a distance, the rest of the villagers sat in groups, drunk beer and smoked.
The father went round receiving rounds of congratulations from his friends and kin. His wife on the other hand sat at the door of their hut where one by one, guests congratulated her.
Then there would be a lull in the dances for a brief naming ceremony.
The villagers stood in a semi circle, at the centre of which the mum and her child stood alongside an elderly man, usually the oldest in the village.
The old man then took the child, held it up and declared “s/he shall be named so-and-so....”
Then loud chanting would follow.
If it was a boy, there would be shouts of “may he be brave, may he have many wives, may be be great!”
If it was a girl, there were wishes that she would grow to have many children.
Are these traditional celebrations practiced in modern times?
Here’s another photo of Wanga villagers.
Photos on this thread were taken by Charles Hobley.
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